Student Hourly System Administrator

Center for Public Partnerships & Research; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 14,000 - 21,000; Part time

Job summary

Center for Public Partnerships & Research in Topeka, KS seeks a student hourly IT support specialist to provide hardware, software, and network assistance for over 400 user accounts in a research environment.

You will join a small technical team, install and configure hardware and software, support daily computing operations, and assist ongoing research projects.

Open to 10–20 hours per week, with summer work and a commitment of at least one year.

Qualifications

• Proven experience building and assembling desktop computers.
• Ability to troubleshoot hardware issues and perform diagnostics.

Responsibilities

• Provide computer hardware, software, and network support for operational needs.
• Support the daily operations of the computing and networking facilities.
• Assist ongoing research projects with computing and networking needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Team collaboration

IP networking experience

Troubleshooting

Tools

Linux

Windows OS

Job description

Position Overview

Provide computer hardware, software, and network support for the operational needs of the Institute for Information Sciences (I2S).

This position will be part of a small technical team of experts, which support over 400 user accounts and 400+ custom Linux and Windows machines in a research environment. This position will report to the I2S Staff System Administrators.

Job Description

40% - Support end-users' (i.e. operational staff, graduate students, and faculty) computer and networking needs through the installation and configuration of computer hardware and software.

30% - Support the daily operations of the I2S computing and networking facilities.

20% - Assist ongoing research projects with their computing and networking needs.

10% - Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Proven experience in building and assembling desktop computers, as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot hardware issues and perform diagnostics, as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Linux and Windows based operating systems, as evidenced by application materials. NOTE: Linux experience is more desirable than Windows.
• Excellent troubleshooting skills, as evidenced by application materials.
• IP based networking experience (cabling, simple network design, etc.), as evidenced by application materials.
• Can work approximately 10 - 20 hours per week.
• Can work during the summer and remain in this position for at least 1 year.
• Experience working with a technical team, as evidenced by application materials.
• Strong communication skills, as evidenced by application materials.

Position Requirements

During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).

Employment Conditions

• Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
• This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.

Additional Candidate Instructions

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• A cover letter addressing how required and preferred qualifications are met
• Resume
• Contact information for three professional references

To ensure consideration, apply before the application review starts on Monday, 8/31/2026. A review of applications will continue and is ongoing until a pool of qualified candidates is identified.

Contact Information to Applicants

Pam Farr

[e-mail]

785-864-7354

Advertised Salary Range

$10.25 - $15.00 per hour

Anticipated Start Date

Monday September 7, 2026

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